Abstract: A sorbent litter composition comprising a dry mix of a particulate earth substrate, polysaccharide in an amount sufficient to improve the inherent clumping ability of the particulate earth substrate upon contact with liquid, and at least one boron-based cross-linking agent in an amount substantially less than the polysaccharide. The invention further comprises a method for preparation of a sorbent litter composition.

Abstract: A liquid fertilizer composition having a substantial ability to retard leaching of constituent plant nutrients is prepared by dispersing glyoxylated hydroxypropyl guar in an aqueous mixture containing a fertilizer chemical in a preferred concentration of 0.4-1.5% by weight. Similarly, a liquid herbicide, fungicide, insecticide, fire retardant or other liquid plant treatment composition having the ability to adhere to applied surfaces to resist washing is prepared by dispersing glyoxylated hydroxypropyl guar in an aqueous mixture of such a plant treatment chemical in a corresponding concentration. A method is disclosed for producing glyoxylated hydroxypropyl guar by reacting guar gum with propylene oxide and the reaction product thereof with glyoxal in the absence of alcohol or any solvent.

Abstract: A multi-lock latch for gates and other closures which utilizes one or more padlocks for security and includes a drum rotatably attached to the gate and having a peripheral flange provided with multiple, spaced padlock openings for receiving the respective padlock shackles. A horizontally-oriented locking bar is slidably attached to the gate, with one end of the locking bar positioned in alignment with the respective shackle openings in the drum flange as the drum is rotated, and the opposite, or locking end of the locking bar aligned with a plate opening provided in a gate post plate mounted on a gate post securing the gate. When the padlocks are attached to the drum flange by insertion of the respective shackles through corresponding shackle openings in the drum flange, the locking bar is disposed such that the locking end is inserted in the plate opening located in the gate post plate and the gate cannot be opened.

Abstract: Aqueous guar gum compositions having a very low content of insolubles, the compositions being formed by impregnating free-flowing solid, particulate guar gum with one or more hydrolytic enzymes and thereafter dissolving the particles of guar gum in water.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation by fractionation, utilizing as oil-recovery means aqueous guar gum compositions having a very low content of insolubles, the compositions being formed by impregnating free-flowing solid, particulate guar gum with one or more hydrolytic enzymes and thereafter dissolving the particles of guar gum in water.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tracer fluid for use in connection with surfactant waterflooding or other chemicalized enhanced oil, recovery processes, and an oil recovery process using the fluid. Fluids containing easily identifiable components such as water-soluble, inorganic salts, specifically water-soluble nitrate salts, as well as low molecular weight alcohols may be used as tracer fluids for determining numerous flow and formation conditions between injection wells and production wells. Many of the most desirable tracers are degraded by bacteria present in field water or surface contamination. Incorporation of from 10 to 2000 and preferably from 50 to 1500 parts per million of an aromatic treating compound, preferably benzene, toluene, or xylene, stabilizes the chemical tracer against microbial attack.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved viscous, aqueous, hydrophilic polymer-containing fluid suitable for injection into porous media such as subterranean petroleum-containing earth formations and an oil recovery method in which the aqueous fluid is injected into the subterranean petroleum-containing formation. The fluid contains an effective amount of an aromatic treating substance, preferrably benzene, toluene, xylene, and low alkyl-substituted benzene or toluene. The improvement resulting from incorporation of this additive in the polymer fluid includes greatly increased resistance to microbial degradation of the polymer, improved screen factor, and improves the injectivity of the fluid.

Abstract: The oil recovery effectiveness of an enhanced oil recovery method comprising sequentially injecting into a subterranean formation, an aqueous, surfactant-containing fluid followed by an aqueous, hydrophilic, viscosity-increasing polymer-containing fluid, is improved by incorporating from 10 to 500 parts per million of an aromatic compound such as toluene in the aqueous polymer-containing fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tracer fluid for use in connection with surfactant waterflooding or other chemicalized enhanced oil recovery processes, and an oil recovery process using the fluid. Fluids containing easily identifiable components such as water-soluble, inorganic salts, specifically water-soluble nitrate salts, as well as low molecular weight alcohols may be used as tracer fluids for determining numerous flow and formation conditions between injection wells and production wells. Many of the most desirable tracers are degraded by bacteria present in field water or surface contamination. Incorporation of from 10 to 2000 and preferably from 50 to 1500 parts per million of an aromatic treating compound, preferably benzene, toluene, or xylene, stabilizes the chemical tracer against microbial attack.

Abstract: An adapter for a sensitive viscometer. It provides increased drag at low shear rates to increase the accuracy. There is an inverted cup shaped rotor that cooperates with an annular shaped stationary container for the fluid to be measured. The annular shape of the container provides reaction surfaces with the fluid on both the inner and outer surfaces of the rotor. And, there is a reservoir in the stationary container with an overflow edge, so that the quantity of fluid to be measured is accurately metered.

Abstract: Method for imparting superior viscosity to an aqueous polysaccharide solution comprises prehydrating polysaccharide in fresh and deionized water. The viscosity imparted to the final aqueous solution by this method is greater than the viscosity of an aqueous polysaccharide solution initially hydrated in hard water. Alternatively, the polysaccharide solution in fresh water may be used alone or diluted with water containing inorganic ions.

Abstract: The specification discloses a process for recovering oil from a subterranean reservoir which process utilizes a thickened flooding liquid containing polysaccharide B-1459. In the process the polysaccharide B-1459 is imparted with superior viscosity by first prehydrating it with fresh or deionized water before mixing with another aqueous component, for example brine water containing large amounts or inorganic ions, that is, hard water. The invention comprises the polysaccharide B-1459 which has been prehydrated in the fresh or deionized aqueous medium and then mixed with hard water. The process for imparting viscosity to polysaccharide B-1459 is an improvement over the prior art in that a higher viscosity is obtained while using the same amount of polysaccharide that has been obtained by hydrating the polysaccharide in hard or brine water initially.